2000
#57,705
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 330
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.12
Rare Last name
Zhuo
A Chinese surname derived from the ancient state of Zhuo.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,027 Americans carry the last name Zhuo. That puts it at #15,866 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.59 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 169,094 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zhuo surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.0K
1 in 169,094
Census rank
#15,866
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,768 bearers of the surname Zhuo in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.59 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 15866th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zhuo, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 97.6%. The next largest groups are White (1.7%) and Two or More Races (0.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zhuo
The surname Zhuo has its origins in China, belonging to the rich tapestry of Chinese family names that have been traced back over millennia. Emerging primarily from ancient regions of China where historical records indicate dense populations and complex social structures, the Zhuo surname is deeply embedded in Chinese history.
The Zhuo surname is derived from characters in the Chinese language, specifically the character 卓, which stands for "outstanding" or "eminent." This suggests that the surname likely originated as a descriptor of someone's achievements or status within society. Phonetic similarities also exist with other characters, contributing to various literary interpretations over time.
One of the earliest references to Zhuo can be found in historical texts like the "Zuo Zhuan," an ancient Chinese chronicle that dates back to around the 5th century BCE. This text is one of the earliest examples where the surname appears in written form, highlighting the prominence of individuals with this surname during the Spring and Autumn period.
Among notable historical figures bearing the surname Zhuo is Zhuo Wenjun, a renowned poet from the Western Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 9 CE). She was celebrated for her literary talent and her love story with the poet Sima Xiangru, which remains a significant narrative in Chinese cultural history.
Another prominent figure is Zhuo Juzhen, who lived during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE). He served as an imperial officer and was recognized for his contributions to the administrative reforms during Emperor Xuanzong's rule. His efforts in governance and policy-making are documented in state records and historical annals.
Zhuo Yihong, a military general during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), played a crucial role in defending the empire's frontiers. His military strategies and leadership were noteworthy and are referenced in military treatises from that era.
In the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912), Zhuo Quan held a significant position within the imperial court, contributing to the era's cultural and administrative developments. His works and administrative reforms have been chronicled in various Qing historical records.
Zhuo Yan, a notable historian of the Republican era (1912–1949), focused on documenting the socio-political changes occurring in early 20th century China. His vast array of written works remains a valuable source for understanding that transitional period in Chinese history.
Through these historical figures, the surname Zhuo has left an indelible mark on various domains such as literature, governance, military strategy, and historical documentation. The legacy of the surname continues to reflect the qualities of distinction and eminence inherent in its etymological roots.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zhuo
Among Census respondents with the surname Zhuo, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 97.6%. The next largest groups are White (1.7%) and Two or More Races (0.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Zhuo bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Zhuo surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander97.6% · 1,726
- White1.7% · 30
- Two or more races0.3% · 5
- Black or African American0.2% · 4
- Hispanic or Latino0.2% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zhuo
Zhuo appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#25,849
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 952
+622 bearers (+188.5%)
Per 100,000 0.32
Rank movement Up 31,856 places
2020
#15,866
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,768
+816 bearers (+85.7%)
Per 100,000 0.59
Rank movement Up 9,983 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #57,705 | 330 | 0.12 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #25,849 | 952 | 0.32 | +622 bearers (+188.5%) | Up 31,856 places |
| 2020 | #15,866 | 1,768 | 0.59 | +816 bearers (+85.7%) | Up 9,983 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Zhuo surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #25,849 | #15,866 | 38.6% |
| Count | 952 | 1,768 | 85.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.32 | 0.59 | 84.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zhuo bearers went from 952 to 1,768 (+85.7% change). The surname moved up 9,983 positions in the national ranking, going from #25,849 to #15,866.
FAQ
Zhuo surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zhuo?
Name Census estimates that about 2,027 living Americans carry the surname Zhuo. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 169,094 residents.
How common is Zhuo?
Zhuo ranks #15,866 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.59 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,768 people with the surname Zhuo. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,027), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.59 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.59 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Zhuo.
Has Zhuo become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zhuo went from 952 recorded bearers to 1,768. That is an increase of 816 (+85.7%). In the national ranking it rose from #25,849 to #15,866.
What does the Census say about the background of Zhuo?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zhuo, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 97.6%. The next largest groups are White (1.7%) and Two or More Races (0.3%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zhuo in the 2020 Census, accounting for 97.6% (1,726 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zhuo appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (97.6%), White (1.7%), Two or More Races (0.3%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Zhuo (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Zhuo mean?
A Chinese surname derived from the ancient state of Zhuo. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Zhuo (0.59 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Zhuo?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.